Conway Reef was country #275 on my homebrew G5RV type dipole I built in 1998, all done with 100 watts. In those 275 entities I have worked some pretty good ones: FR/T, ZL9, 3Y0X, VK9W, 3B7, 3B9, 5A on 80m, Spratley on 40m. However, I have also missed quite a few dxpeditions: YK9A, FT5XO, several to 6O, ZD9, and 3C0E. When slugging it out with a dipole and 100 watts in the pileups, I often know that my chances of getting the DX are slim to none. If I turn off my radio or spin the VFO dial, I know my chances of getting the DX are none to none. I like the former odds better.

I wish they would do a final log update so I can confirm I'm in the log.

I was sitting around waiting for this one and trying to let the absolutely brutal European pile-up die down, but then I read on Tuesday they were going QRT soon so I forced myself to do it. I unplugged my keyer, launched N1MM and cranked the CW up to 30 WPM. Amazingly, I worked them on 17m and 15m CW within about 15 minutes. I've been trying to improve my manual CW sending skills but 20 WPM does not cut through a pile-up like 30 WPM.

I wish they would do a final log update so I can confirm I'm in the log.

73,Gary, ES1WST

Same here, I worked them on 40m CW on 02/10. This was a good crew with good signals most of the time, at least to my QTH. A job well done! BUT..... for some reason, we have been pretty much in the dark as far as any news updates, etc. I think someone mentioned that a couple days ago. I guess they put the emphasis where it should be, making QSOs instead of telling us about mosquitos, sand sharks, etc. hi hi .73, Gene AF3Y

Of course with these guys in a boat somewhere in the Pacific, the main thing is for them to get home safely... I'm sure the log will be updated in due course.

It was an excellent DXpedition in my opinion (since I managed to work them for an ATNO ). I never heard them much on the low bands but that is due to my poor station. They had great sigs here in NE Europe on 15m and 17m on Tuesday for sure.

Not many RTTY Qso's. I am glad I have my digi Qso from the previous dxpedition with 3D20CR in 2009. All in all, not too bad although we lately kind of got used to see dxpedition Qso counts with 3 digits, hi! For me Conway Reef is off the needed list from 80-10m in CW/SSB/RTTY.

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Club Log doesn't have the data (didn't last night anyway) I sent off for the OQRS so hopefully they have me in their logs.

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Club Log doesn't have the data (didn't last night anyway) I sent off for the OQRS so hopefully they have me in their logs.

At first I thought to myself, "So, what's the problem?". Then I thought: "So lets do a Google of 'Yagis not a good beach antenna'" When this blog popped up from W8TN, a member of the NH8S Swains Island DX'pedition:

"Have you ever wondered why current DX'peditions that are set up on a beach do not use yagi antennas? A 2-L vertical next to salt-water, produces a stronger signal up to an elevation angle of about 3° than a 4-L yagi at 100-feet on 20-M! There is no way for a DX'pedition to put up a 4-L yagi at 100-feet so the dipole is clearly superior. If you lower that yagi to 70-feet the elevation angle moves up another 4° so the SVDA is KING. You can look HERE on the Force 12 web site for a full description of what this type of antenna can do. However, the key to the SVDA working this well is the salt-water so it won't benefit you to put one up here in WV!"

Although I don't see too much disparity in the total number of QSO's. Swains had 105404 in 10 days while Conway had 71693 in 6 days. But it would be interesting to see a breakdown of geographic QSO's to see if there was a major disparity in areas worked between the two.

I'm sure the choice in what antennas they use is not only by their own choosing, but also what kind of corporate, club, and other organization donations they receive. But as it is, they still provided a lot of ATNO's including mine so I'm happy

I'm thankful that they took the trouble to go and give me an ATNO. If anyone can do better then they should "just do it." I'm in the 47%, at least as far as DXing is concerned, and I appreciate the efforts of everyone who puts one on the air.

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